Diving board



Feb. 8, 1949. E. G. S'CHUMACHER DIVING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1946 vow 000 Fb. 8, 1949.. E. G. SCHUMACHER DIVING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1943 lll llll ll l u+| 17E Few legs DIVING BOARD 3 Sheet s Filed May 1946 R RN Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE DIVING BOARD" Edward G. Schumacher, Buffalo. N. Y.

Application May 9, 1946, Serial No. 668,564

13 Claims. (01. 272-66) This invention relates to a driving apparatus which is more particularly intended for use in connection with artificial swimming pools located ether indoors or outdoors but is also .usefulin other installations.

At the present time the body of a diving'apparatus is usually made of wood planks which have a springy or flexible quality so that the diver can take-ofi easily and gracefully and also aid him in increasing the extent of his jump before descending into the water. Wood suitable for diving boards is becoming increasingly scarce and it is therefore difiicult and costly to maintain diving apparatus containing such equipment when the same is broken.

In the use of so called spring boards it is also desirable to adjust them so as to permit different types of diving and also to permit persons of different weights to use the apparatus most efiectively.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a board or take-01f member for diving apparatus which is made wholly of metal so. as to reduce the cost of this part of diving equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for mounting the board of a diving apparatus so as to permit of using the same for low or high diving, also to permit of different kinds of dives and to readily adapt the board for persons of different weight.

With these objects in view this invention consists of the improved means which are shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification and summed up in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a diving apparatus embodying a form of this invention which is so constructed that the rear end of the diving board may be adjusted vertically to suit different requirements but hold this end of the diving board in a normally fixed position and also supporting the intermediate part of the diving board so that the same is vertically adjustable to suit different requirements and also permit the diver to takeoff easily and with a springy action from the front end of the board.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the diving apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is, a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the diving apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 4'4, Fig. 7.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 1 and looking upwardly.

Figs. 6 and '7 are vertical, transverse sections. on an enlarged scale, taken on the correspond ingly numbered lines in Fig. 1. r

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8-8, Fig. '7. V

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 9-9, Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a diving apparatus embodying this invention but showing a modified form of the same.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the diving apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 are vertical cross sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 10.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

The diving apparatus embodying this invention and illustrated in Figs. 1-9 consists generally of a base or foundation, a diving board arranged above the base, means for normally supporting the board at its rear end in a fixed position but permitting vertical adjustment of the same, means whereby the intermediate part of the board is resiliently supported but is capable of vertical adjustment, and means for detachably mounting a mat on the. spring board so as to guard against slippage of the diver thereon.

Instead of making the take-off board of resilient wood as'has been customary heretofore, the present board is made wholly of metal as follows:

The numeral 20 represents the top plate of the board made of sheet metal which is comparatively long and narrow corresponding to the general dimensions of wooden spring boards heretofore in common use.

Along its longitudinal edges this top plate is provided with downwardly projecting longitudinal flanges 2! of sheet metal and at its transverse front and'rear ends the same is also'provided with downwardly projecting sheet metal flanges 22, 23, thereby providing a structure which is very light and strong and capable of withstanding the load imposed on the same during a diving operation.

For the purpose of further increasing the strength of this board its underside is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 24 which project downwardly from the underside of the top plate 20, these ribs being preferably formed in pairs by bending a strip of sheet metal into, U-

form in cross section and securing the horizontal web of the respective pair to the underside of the top plate 20 by spot welding, brazing or other suitable means as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In its operative position this board or takeoff member may be arranged either horizontally comparatively long and narrow and of such Ch mensions that it covers the entire upper side of the board and also provides longitudinal flalis- ""i which project downwardly from thelongitud' edges of the body and engage with the outer of the longitudinal flanges 2i oi tlie boa'i d while the front end of the body of the mat is provided with a transverse front flap '28 which is turned downwardly against the front side of the front fiange'fi'. and rearwardly'toward' the underside. of the board and the rear end of the body of the mat having'a rear nap .29 which is' turned downwardly against theflrear side of the rear flange 23 and forwardly toward the'underside'of the rear part ofthe board, as shown in Fig.3;

Various means may be provided for detachably connecting this mat; with the diving board along its longitudinal and transverse front and rearedgesbut thos'awhioh are. shown in the draw'ihg's are preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 3i? represents longitudinal rows of open'ings formedin the" longitudinal flanges of the spring board and 3! represents a plurality of opemng's arranged in longitudinal rows on the longitudinal flaps of the mat, each ofth'ese openings being. preferably lined with a grommet, thereby avoiding the formation of cutting edges in the openings of the .boar d flanges 2i andi al'so preventing tearing out holes. in the longitudinal flaps of the mat. V

in attachin the mat to thcjdiving board the openings in the longitudinal flaps of thexinat are placedinregist'er with the; openings in the longitudinal flanges or, the board" and then these flanges and flaps are conneeteswith each other by means of lacing 32 which is passed back" and forth through successive openings and lengthwise of the'respective flanges and flaps so that the same are connected in. a mannerwhicn per mits of. readily applying the mat to the board and also removing-the same therefrom.

Means are also provided for stretchingjthe mat lengthwise of the board so that the same is taut or even thereon. Although this may be accomplishedby various means it is referable to employ for. purpose means .for fixedly securing one eiid of this mat to one end of. the board while the other end of the same is connected with the boardby means which permit of drawingthe mat tight.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 this is accomplished by connecting the rearwardly. turned frontflap 28 of the that with the underside of the board by means 6f a pldl'lality 0i lafiibihg bolts 33 passing through openings or eyes 36 on the reai wardly turned part of the front flap of the mat, and pulling the rear flap 29 of the mat fonwardly by means of an equalizing bar is hav ing a plurality of ho ks stengaging with eyes on the rear flap and a tightening blot 31* which is connected at its rear end with the equalizing bar is" and has asc'rew not to bearto an adaptor preferably intlieforrn of an arm 4 ing against a downwardly projecting bracket 39 on the underside of. the board. By these means tightening of the screw nut 38 will cause the rear flap of the mat to be drawn forwardly and thereby put tension on the body of the mat which will cause the same to lie evenly on the upper surface of the board and provide a foot hold for the diver which will prevent him from slipping.

fIhe board at the diving apparatus is mounted above the base or foundation *i'U- adjacent to the edge of the basin containing the pool of water which base may be constructed of any ht its'rear end the board is mounted on the base by means which normally support the board rigidly in position but which are so constructed that this eiid of theboard may be adjusted verticallyrelative to the base. The particular conso structioh of the meansefor thus mounting the rear end of the boardfon the base which are shown in- Figs. 3} 4 5,"?lan'd- 8' are constructed as follows; I

The; numeral 4i, M represents two upright posts or standards which are arranged on op positesides of the rear, part of tlietdivihg board and are upportedat their lower endson the base while their upper; parts are onnected: with thediving board by meanswhich-"permitthe'. latter as be adjusted vertically on these osts; Al

"thoug hivarious means may beemployed for mounting" the lower ends or the enposts on the" base; it is preferable-to employ means' fo1-'this urpose-which.are-constructed as follows:

At its lower'end each of'the boardsis'secured" 42 which rests on top oip the base and ,is provided with a-hoi'iz'ontal' slot as which receives the upper part, of an anchor bolt 44- which has its'lower end secured in the base or foundation;

When thediving apparatus is erected onthe foundation the slots of thea'd'aptor arms are placed. over the bodiesjof the anchor bolts! and clamped, down-on the; base or foundation by 45 means of nuts 45" on these bolts'bearing against the upper side of the adaptor arms. By these meansthesei posts A: may be properly secured to theihase; notwithstanding thatithere maybe some. inaccuracy in; the location on" the anchor arms may be shiftedhorizontallyon the anchor boltswithin certain limits anriistill enablenthe post to be located in the proper position on the base before tightening the nuts or the anchor 55 bolts.

include gear wheels or pinions 59 secured; tothe shaft 41 and meshing with vertical racks 5 on the posts. Upon turningthese gear wheels in one direction or the other; the rear-part of' the diving board and the 'crosslieads' 46' are raised or lowered relative to the: posts 4|. turning movement oftlie shaft, in and: the gear wheels 50 may be enacted inany. suitable man- This shown by dotted lines 52 in Fig. 7 applied to the square end 53 of this shaft.

After the crossheads and the rear part of the board have been raised or lowered to the desired position on the posts 4| these parts are held stationary by locking means which may be variously constructed but preferably consist of looking pins 54 each of which is mounted on one of the crossheads 46 in suchla manner that. the same may be moved with its inner endinto and out of engagement with a notch formed between two adjacent teeth of one of the gear wheels 50. Each of these locking pins is preferably connected by a screw joint 55 with the respec tive crosshead 45 and adapted to be turned by a handle 56 on the outer end thereof. By turning this locking pin the screw joint between the same and the respective crosshead will cause the inner end of this locking pin to move into or outof engagement with the adjacent teeth on the respective gear wheel 50 and thereby either lock this wheel against turning or permit the same to turn when adjustment of the rear end of the board is desired.

The means for mounting the intermediate part of the take-oil board on the foundation or base so that the board is yieldingly supported and also permit of adjusting the same vertically to suit difierent requirements are constructed as follows:

57 represent two upright posts which are arranged on opposite sides of the intermediate part of the take-off board and each of which has its lower end mounted on the base so that the same can adapt itself to upright anchoring bolts 58 on the base. These attaching means are preferably similar to those which are used in connection with the rear posts .4! and each of these comprises an adaptor arm 59 resting on the base and secured to the lower end of the respective post, said arm being provided with a radial horizontal slot 60 which receives the shank of an anchor bolt 58 and is. pressed down on the base by means of a screw nut 6! applied to the upper end of the shank and bearing again-st the upper side of said arm. By means of this adaptable fastening the anchor bolts 58 need not be mounted on the base with absolute accuracy but nevertheless permits the respective post 51 to be connected therewith and located in the proper position on the base.

Below the intermediate part of the take-off board is arranged an upper crosshead $2 engaging with the underside of the take-01f board and slidable vertically on the upper parts of the posts 5'1, and a lower crosshead 63 mounted on these posts and vertically adjustable thereon for which purpose these crossheads are provided respectively with openings 64, 85 which receive said posts. The lower crosshead 63 may be adjusted vertically on the posts 5'! in various ways but preferably by means which include a horizontal" shaft 85 arranged transversely below the take-oif board and journaled adjacent to its opposite ends in bearings 61 at opposite ends of the lower crosshead 63, and gear Wheels or pinions 68 secured to the opposite end portions of this shaft and meshing with vertical racks 59 mountedon' the adjacent sides of the posts 51. By'tur'ning the shaft 86 and its gear wheels in one-direction.

or the other these wheels will roll either Qup'- wardly or downwardly on these racks and move.

the parts mounted thereon accordingly. The; turning movement of the shaft 55 is preferably effected bymeans of a crank Hi shown; by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and adapted to be connected with the squared end H of this shaft.

After the lower crosshead 63 has been moved into the desired vertical position on the posts 51 this crosshead may be locked against vertical motion by means which preferably, consist of looking pins 12 each of which is adapted to move horizontally on the adjacent part of the lower crosshead into and out of the space between two.

of the teeth on the adjacent gear Wheel 68. This movement of the locking pin is preferably accomplished by means of a screw connection [3 between the same and an opening in the lower.

crosshead 63 and the turning of this locking pin may be effected by means of a knob or handle 14 arrangedon the outer end of the same.

Cushioning means are provided between the upper crosshead 62 and the lower crosshead which cushioning means, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9 preferably comprise a bearing plate of metal secured to the underside of the intermediate part of the take-off board, and an elastic plate T6 of rubber or similar material arranged between the upper crosshead 62 and the bearing plate and secured to the diving board. By these means an elastic or cushioned support for the take-off board on the upper crosshead 62 is provided.

The main spring effect for yieldingly supporting the take-oii board is provided by a plurality of helical springs 'i'! which are arranged in ,a group between the upper and lower crossheads 62, 63, each of these springs being held at its upper end against horizontal displacement on the upper crosshead 62 by means of a retaining stud i8 projecting downwardly from this crosshead and entering the upper end of the coil of this spring, and a retaining stud 19 mounted on the lower crosshead 83 and entering the lower end of the respective spring.

When the weight of the diver rests on the takeoff board these springs 11 are compressed and as he jumps from the same these springs expand, thereby rendering the take-cit board yielding and enabling the diver to take-off from the same and perform fancy diving as readily as has been possible when using flexible wooden planks.

In order to hold the upper and lower crossheads 62, 63 in alinement with each other and prevent any binding action or" the upper crosshead on the posts 57, independent guide means are provided which preferably comprise a plurality of uprightguide rods 8e each of which is secured at its upper end to the underside of the upper crosshead 62 and has its lower part slidable vertically in a guide opening 8| in the lower crosshead 63, as shown in Fig. 6.

Means are provided for limiting the upward movement of the upper crosshead under the efiects of the springs 11 when the latter expand, which means preferably comprise upright limiting rods 82 arranged adjacent to the posts 51-5I and each secured at its lower end to the adjacent endofthe lower crosshead 63 and sliding with its upper part through an opening 83 in the.

corresponding end of the upper crosshead 52,

a rubber buffer or cushion 84 resting upon the upper crosshead and surrounding the respective limiting rod, and adjusting screw nuts 85, applied to the upper end of the respective limiting rod and bearing against the upper side of the buffer 3:1, as best shown in Fig. 6. By tightening the screwnuts 85 more or less the main springs 11 may beco-mpressed' more or less in addition to the initial compression imparted to these springsbefore mounting the same between the upper and lower crossheads.

When the weight of the diver depresses athe take-on board the upper crosshead slides down.- waizdly on the limiting rods and when theweight of the diver is taken on fromthis board the latter is again elevated between springs 3H until the :upper cro'sshead is arrested by the buffers and adjusting screw nuts on the upper ends :of these rods.

The modified form of diving apparatus lembodying this invention, and shown :in' Fig's.---z10, 11, 12 and I3 is constructed as follows:

So far as the base or foundation and the take-oil or spring board are :-concerned, these.

are substantially like the correspondingtparts shown in Figs. 1-9.

The means for vpivotally supporting the rear end of the board on the foundation 'are -so-organized that the board is only capable of turning about a horizontal fulcrum but is incapable of vertical adjustment relative to the base in this construction the numeral :86 represents a transverse cross bar secured to the upper side of the base by means of .anchorbolts '81 passing through the opposite ends of the :same and anchored at their lower ends in the base. .Adiacent to opposite ends of this cross bar the same is rovided with two upright posts 88 arranged on opposite sides of the rear end part of the italic-off board. Thenuineral as represents a horizontal shalt arranged transversely underneath the rear part oi the ta'kaoli board and dournaledin bearings '89 secured to the underside of thisboard. Theoppesite ends of this shalt project through openings 8i, iii in the adjacent par-ts f the rear posts 88 and are held against displacementEthereon' byuneans of screw nuts 92 engaging with the shaft and bearing against the outer sides of these posts, as shown in Figs. 10, 'lland 13.

Yielding means are provided forsupp'ortingthe intermediate part of the take-oil 'board which preferably comprise a cross bar -93 secured at its opposite ends to the top of the base by meansiof anchor bolts central part engaging with -'a plate $8 on the underside of the intermediate part of the takeoff board while its opposite ends are s'lidable vertically on two upright posts 9-"? which rise from the crossbar 9301i opposite longitndinalsides of the take-off board. This crosshead Si-and the take-off board mounted thereon are yi'e'ldingly held'in an elevated position by means of springs 98 interposed between the crosshead 95 and the crossbar 93 and held against displacement by means of upper and lower retaining studs $9 arranged respectively on the crosshead 55 and the crossbar S3 and entering the "upper and lower ends of these springs as "best shown in Fig. 12. The upward movement of the crosshead &5 is limited by means of rubber buffers or cushions ifiilmounted on the guide posts 91 and restingon the upper side of the crosshead'fiE and adjustable 5 5, and a crosshead 95 having its screw nuts 13! arranged on these guide posts diver depresses the board and compresses the springs 38 and when thew'eight of the dl'ver i's removed from the board the "latter isiagain elevated-by m'e'an s' of these springs until the crosshead engages the underside of the respective buffers, thereby enabling the diver :to use this beand with the some yieldingaor :cushioning effect as nI/ihenusing ord-inary resilient wooden planks.

280th iormszof this invention are very .eii'icien't in opwation, they are compact in construction and capable 10f being readily installed and mainrained-in 'an'nperatiV'e iCOHdifiOl'l. They can also be manufactured at comparatively low *cost and one notiliabletto be broken in use thereby avoiding expensive replacements as has been necessary heretoiere when using Woodeniplanksior the spring :board.

- 1 :c'lerirn as myiinventionz divingiapparatus comprising a board canistructedlol sheet metal and inc'ludingatop plate and ilah'g'es projecting downwardly from tlxie edges or saidplate, 1a mat-arranged on top :of said plate, and means for deta'ehably connecting said matwun said board including lacing passing through corresponding openings in said flanges said mat.

2. A diving apparatus comprising :a hoard-constnucted ef sheet metal :and including top plate flanges projecting downwardly from :the edgesel said plates, a mat arranged :on top of said plate and means for tightening said mat lengthwise on the board including bolts connectan-end of said mat with said plate, a bar connected withtheopposite end of said mat, and a tightening screw connecting said bar with plate.

diving apparatus comprising a board, a base, and means adjustably supporting said board on' said base including posts rising from said base and each provided with a gear rack, gear wheels meshing with said racks, crossheads slidable on said posts-and having bearings, ashaft connected with sa'id wheels and journaled in said bearings, and locking pins movable on said crossheads and -adapted -to engage with the teeth "of fsaiid Wheels.

a. la diving apparatus comprising a board, a band-means -vvhereby the rearendof the board is menntet1 on said base, and means adjustably supporting "the intermediate part of said board onthe base 'inoludin'gposts rising from said base an'cl provided with-gear racks, acrosshead-guided on said posts and supporting said board, and gear wheels mounted on said cros'shead and meshing with said gear racks.

*5. A diving "apparatus comprising a board, a base, means which mount the rear end of the board on said base, and means adjustably supporting the'intermediate :part of said board on finally adjustable means for normally supporting the rear "end "of theboard in a fixed position, and veftic'a'illy resilient "and vertically adjustable nreans'forfsupportln'g the'intermediate-part of the board.

? diving apparatus 'compris'ing a board, =8.

base and means whereby said board is adjustably supported on said base including posts rising from said base and each provided with a gear rack, crossheads slidable on said posts, bearing means mounted on said board, a shaft journaled on said slides and bearing means, gear wheels connected with said shaft and meshing with said gear racks, and means holding said slides in position on said posts after adjustment.

9. A diving apparatus comprising a board, a base, means which mount the rear end of the board on said base, and means adjustably supporting the intermediate part of said board on the base including posts rising from said base and provided with gear racks, upper and lower crossheads slidable on said posts and said upper crosshead supporting said board, gear pinions mounted on the lower crosshead and meshing with said gear racks, locking means which hold said lower crosshead against movement on said posts, and cushion means interposed between said crossheads.

10. A diving apparatus comprising a board, a base, means which mount the rear end of the board on said base, and means adjustably supporting the intermediate part of said board on the base including posts rising from said base and provided with gear racks, upper and lower crossheads slidable on said posts and said upper crosshead supporting said board, gear pinions mounted on the lower crosshead and meshing with said gear racks, means holding said lower crosshead against vertical movement on said posts, a, vertical guide rod secured at its upper end to said upper crosshead and slidable in said lower crosshead and spring means interposed between said crossheads.

11. A diving apparatus comprising a board, a base, means whereby the rear end of the board is mounted on the base, means whereby the intermediate part of the board is mounted on the base including posts rising from said base, upper and lower crossheads slidable vertically on said posts and said upper crosshead supporting said board, means whereby said lower crosshead is adjusted on said posts, cushion means interposed between said crossheads and means whereby the 10 upward movement of said upper crosshead relative to the lower crosshead is limited.

12. A diving apparatus comprising a board, a base, means whereby the rear end of the board is mounted on the base, means whereby the intermediate part of the board is mounted on the base including posts rising from said base, upper and lower crossheads slidable vertically on said posts and said upper crosshead supporting said board, means whereby said lower crosshead is adjusted on said posts, cushion means interposed between said crossheads and means whereby the upward movement of said upper crosshead is limited relative to the lower crosshead including adjustingrods connected at their lower ends with said lower crosshead, cushions resting on said upper crosshead, and screw nuts arranged on the upper ends of said adjusting rods and bearing against said cushions.

13. A diving apparatus comprising aboard, a base, means whereby the rear end of the board is mounted on the base, means whereby the intermediate part of the board is mounted on the base including posts rising from said base, upper and lower crossheads slidable vertically on said posts and said upper crosshead supporting said board, means whereby said lower crosshead is adjusted on said posts, cushion means interposed between said upper crosshead and said board, cushion means interposed between said crossheads and means whereby the upward movement of said upper crosshead relative to the lower crosshead is limited.

EDWARD G. SCI-IUMACHER.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 922,565 Cole May 25, 1909 1,634,854 Scollard July 5, 1927 1,939,478 Whistler Dec. 12, 1933 2,106,068 Sirch Jan. 18, 1938 2,382,761 Wilks Aug. 14, 1945 

